The Paramedic's Secret Son Read online

  ‘Only took us a decade.’ She laughed.

  ‘Well, you kept me dangling on the engagement hook long enough!’ he teased, an old running joke between them now.

  ‘Hey!’ She slapped gently at one of the hands around her, and he nuzzled his scruff in deeper, scraping it along her cheek, making her laugh and shiver with lust, all at the same time. ‘I’ll have you know I am a busy career woman with a very full schedule.’

  He growled, turning her to face him and kissing her impulsively. ‘That’s it, keep talking. Tell me all about it; I love a strong woman.’

  She giggled, wrapping her arms around the back of his head, running her fingers through his thick hair. They had music playing from the corner of the lavish room, and a familiar song came on. Slowly, they started to sway together, enjoying the solitude after their busy day out sightseeing.

  They’d even been to the hospital where Harry had worked, and Abe, Aidan and Annie had all loved meeting Harry’s friends and colleagues, seeing just how much he was loved, how he’d been missed. They could all relate to missing Harry. They’d even met the doctors and nurses who had helped treat him for the aggressive cancer he’d arrived with. Annie had cried then, hugging more than one of them a little too tightly, and thanking them over and over. They knew all about her, which was probably the most surprising thing of all. Looking at Harry’s proud and slightly embarrassed face, she knew she’d fallen in love with him even more right then and there. Something she’d never thought possible since that day they had met again in the airport car park. Even then, her heart had come back to life. Even through the hurt, and the anger at his departure.

  Their colleagues had all been amazing. They were all thrilled for them, and the news about Harry being Aidan’s real father had been met with happiness too, and more than a few knowing looks. She loved them all even more for keeping their suspicions to themselves, making those early years easier to bear. There were no secrets now, and the station was a happier place for it.

  Purdie was happy with the result too. She video called them often, and Aidan was getting to know her family right along with them. Barbados was next on the holiday list, and they had already done Spain and most of the British tourist attractions. The days out as a family had been amazing, filled with fun, and their house was filled with souvenirs and family photos.

  Her mother’s photos had pride of place on the mantelpiece and every day she thought of her. She would have been so happy with how things had turned out. Annabel liked to think that she was looking down on them, content and thrilled that Aidan had two parents who loved him dearly, a tribe of people who would all drop everything to come to his aid.

  Tom and Lloyd were blissfully happy too, their dream of becoming a family finally a reality. They were back in London, no doubt run ragged by their very cute and very active twin boys, Jayden and Nathan. When they’d first gone round to see them at their house she’d caught Harry looking at her more than a few times, not that he didn’t anyway. He was always finding excuses to touch her, always looking her way, as though he thought she might just vanish in a puff of smoke. This time was different though; these looks were ones of concern. She was rolling around on the floor, tickling the twins while Aidan pretended that the floor was lava, making them gurgle with delight. He needn’t have worried though, and she’d told him as much that night. Whilst she loved being auntie to the gorgeous boys, she was just as glad to hand them back.

  She remembered all too well how hard it had been raising baby Aidan, and their lives together had so many more things in it. Travel, their jobs, watching their son grow into a fine young man. Harry had even persuaded her to buy a puppy and, given the space they now had at home, she had finally relented. They were picking a rescue puppy up from the local shelter on their return; they’d had a pregnant Labrador bitch come in and the pups would be ready for new homes a few days after they returned home from their trip. Aidan had no idea; she couldn’t wait to see his face when they went to collect him. Another boy in the household to love.

  The four of them were so happy together, Abe keeping well, still as moody as ever. He was getting ready to retire, his practice safe in the hands of a doctor he’d recruited and trained up. Well, doggedly nagged at more like. The man was nothing short of a stickler, but he was far less sour these days. Having his son back and his fractured family back together suited him well. Harry and he were closer than ever, always laughing and discussing medical journals and breakthroughs together. They saw the merits of each profession and regaled each other with stories of great saves and low moments. There wasn’t anything they wouldn’t do for the little man in their lives, and her. Abe had even joined the nagging train about the puppy too, even going as dirty as playing the cholesterol card on her. For weeks before she’d finally given in, he had taken to emailing her medical evidence of how pets helped cognitive function in developing adults, and helped the elderly feel less alone and vulnerable to ill health. The man would live to be a hundred, and he had more friends than Mark Zuckerberg, but she loved him for it. These Carter men were determined; she knew that only too well.

  The three men in her life were about to become four, although she hoped that the four-legged new addition would give her less trouble than the first three. Secretly, she was looking forward to it herself now, and she had a whole army of dog walkers and sitters on hand for when they had to juggle their shifts. She still marvelled to herself at how her life had changed.

  ‘You back?’ Harry asked, twirling her around on the spot, pulling her out of her private world once more. ‘Where do you go when you do that?’ he asked, the love and adoration plain on his face as he pulled her close once more.

  ‘Nowhere far,’ she said, a teasing smile on her tired but happy face. ‘Just thinking about how things turned out.’

  ‘Hard to believe, isn’t it?’

  ‘You’re telling me. I wanted to run you over in the car park when I first saw you. Tom saved your life that day, you know.’

  Harry laughed as she rested her head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken, the low rumble in his chest.

  ‘I owe Tom a few more babysitting sessions then.’

  Harry was a great uncle, equally as great as he was a doting father, son and husband. The three boys all loved him, and he them. It was great to see him with them, and she thanked her lucky stars every single morning she awoke in his arms.

  ‘Ten at the very least; I’m an excellent driver.’

  ‘I’m glad you didn’t,’ he said earnestly. ‘And you’re not that great. Our fence post would disagree, I think you’ll find.’

  ‘Hey! There was a squirrel there, I told you!’

  They laughed together, turning back towards the view and looking out at the landscape laid before them. They were in Dubai together, finally. And now it was all the more special. Because they had finally found each other again, and their family was complete. She couldn’t wait to see what the next decade would bring. Something told Mrs Annabel Carter that she wouldn’t want to miss one single second of it. Life was for living, and loving, and giving second chances. One call could change a life for ever, and no one knew that better than her.

  As they headed to bed much later that evening, lying there in the dark, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks for everything she had.

  ‘I love you,’ Harry sighed, pulling her close as they let sleep claim them both.

  ‘I love you too.’ She smiled in the darkness, kissing him again. She never wanted to stop kissing this man. And she never did.

  * * *

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  PROLOGUE

  NATE EDWARDS STOOD on the tarmac, a tiny cloth doll clutched in his hand, awaiting the Medicine Around the World plane that would whisk him away from Saint Victoria and the aftermath of the hurricane that had wreaked havoc on the small Caribbean island. His thumb rubbed across the doll’s rough cloth, trying not to picture the tearstained eyes of her parents as they presented the gift to him. But their faces were forever burned into his memory. As was the dark-haired child who had been so very sick. And yet she’d managed the tiniest of smiles for him. With the island’s hospital obliterated by the fury of the storm, there had been little hope of saving her.

  But God, how he’d wanted to. How he’d fought for her.

  The phone in his pocket pinged.

  Hell. His team had had only the most rudimentary supplies to work with during their stay. How, then, could cell phone signals still get through?

  He pulled the phone out of his pocket, glad he’d charged it before packing for the trip home.

  His mom’s name appeared at the top of the screen.

  Glad you’re coming home today. We have a big surprise waiting for you! Your father and I can’t wait for you to see it.

  A sense of dread filled his gut. He’d hoped by coming to the island he could circumvent their plans and buy himself a little more time to explain things to them. And then there was Tara, who had been hinting about settling down once he finished specializing. Except so much had changed. He tucked the doll under his arm as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. He typed back.

  Please don’t do anything until I get there.

  He had no idea how he was going to tell them that he had no intention of joining their practice. After his trip to Saint Victoria—which they hadn’t approved of—the last thing he wanted to do was practice plastic surgery on the rich and famous.

  One of his colleagues came up beside him. “Nate, we just got the results back on your patient’s mystery illness.”

  Too late. Marie had already passed away. Still he forced himself to ask. “What was it?”

  “Schistosomiasis. It must have damaged her liver and intestines beyond repair. That’s why she was so jaundiced. She had to have had it for a while.”

  A parasite found in water had killed her? He closed his eyes. That possibility had never even crossed his mind. They’d had to send samples via water courier to a neighboring island, but he’d known in his heart it was too late. It should make him feel better to know there was nothing he could have done. Instead he just felt...empty. And now he had to go home and face his parents and Tara.

  He forced himself to meet the eyes of his colleague. “Thanks for letting me know.”

  “You’re welcome.” Peter clapped him on the back. “Not your fault.”

  “Thanks.”

  What else could he say?

  Just then his phone pinged again, the screen lighting up and drawing his attention to the words that were printed there.

  Too late. It’s already done.

  Three smiley faces appeared at the end of the phrase.

  She was right. It was already done. All of it.

  Marie. This trip. His decision about what to do with his future.

  Maybe Tara would understand. Maybe she’d even want to join him.

  He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and cradled the worn doll in his palms.

  Because he was coming back to this island, someday, and he was going to use his training to do something good. Something worthwhile.

  If it took every penny he had.

  Copyright © 2021 by Harlequin Books S.A.

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  ISBN-13: 9780369711984

  The Paramedic’s Secret Son

  Copyright © 2021 by Rachel Dove

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  For questions and comments about the quality of this book, please contact us at [email protected].

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